Born in 1957 in Fukuoka Prefecture, formerly known as Sogo Ishii. ISHII Gakuryu is a film director and became a leading figure in the Japanese New Wave with his university graduation project, Crazy Thunder Road. His notable directorial works include Burst City, The Crazy Family, 1/2 Man, Angel Dust, August in the Water, Labyrinth of Dreams, Electric Dragon 80000V, Gojoe, That's It, and Punk Samurai Slash Down. His latest film, The Box Man, starring Masatoshi Nagase, will be released in Japan on August 23, 2024. He served as a professor in the film course at Kobe Design University from 2006 until stepping away from his position in March 2023.
